County requests slowed by incomplete data, denials

Feb. 1, 2013

Written by

Gannett Wisconsin Media Investigative Team

Though 56 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties provided at least partial responses to a request for salary data within six weeks, the process stretched out nearly six months as several entities denied the request outright and many more initially provided partial data.

Most counties were cooperative, but a handful ignored the Gannett Wisconsin Media Investigative Team open records request and follow-up contact for months at a time. And Juneau County Corporation Counsel David Lasker condemned the request as “unduly burdensome and oppressive,” though his county ultimately provided data in late July.

Incomplete data

The requests were sent out in early May 2012, and 18 counties provided some or all data by the end of the month — including four within the first week. Another 38 counties sent data in June, 11 in July, two each in August and September, and one in October.

The last to arrive was Washington County which repeatedly provided general pay scales or insurance rates instead of the specific employee amounts requested. Barron, Clark, Kenosha, Sawyer and Winnebago counties were among those that sent only partial data initially, with Barron County noting it did not fill some elements because it “would be quite time consuming.”

Overtime/extra pay included traditional overtime as well as longevity, shift differential and other bonuses beyond base pay. Benefits were defined as cost to the county for each employee’s health, dental, life, worker’s compensation and long-term disability insurance, as well as retirement, Social Security and Medicare.

All 72 counties provided either 2011 gross or base salaries, but a handful did not turn over each of the other categories. Seven counties did not provide projected 2012 salaries, five did not provide 2011 benefits and three did not provide 2011 overtime/extra pay.

Five counties were unable to provide any employee data in digital form, and five others could only provide some digitally.

Fees varied

Counties varied greatly in their attempts to collect fees for the request.

Forty-three counties provided the data free of charge, while 29 sought some payment, ranging from a $1.25 invoice from Richland County to $385.42 from Shawano County. Nineteen counties charged $100 or more.

Many counties provided costly original estimates that were dramatically reduced after further negotiation or clarification of the request. Dodge County estimated $2,983 but ultimately provided the data free of charge, and Wood County sought more than $1,500 but later dropped the fee to $157.76.

Several other counties attempted to bill for items not allowed under state statute, including Buffalo County which billed for staff time and stamps to notify employees of the request. That charge was withdrawn after being challenged by Gannett Wisconsin Media.